Leading 3-0 going into the bottom of the 7th inning in St. Louis, the Baltimore Orioles bent but did not break. The Cardinals scored solo runs in both the 7th and 8th innings but were held there in a 3-2 win by the Orioles.
With the win, the Orioles took the series from the Cardinals and despite sitting in 4th place in the powerhouse AL East are inching closer to a .500 record.
Bryan Baker made the start on this 90 degree day and gave up just 1 lone hit while striking out 3 in 2.1 innings. Keegan Akin (1-0) took the ball from Baker and allowed 1 hit, walked 2 and struck out 4 in 2.2 innings to earn the win, his first of the season.
Dillon Tate (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K), Cionel Perez (1,0 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 K, 1 HRA, 1 HBP) and Joey Krehbiel (0.2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB) bridged the gap for big Felix Bautista (1.1 IP, 1 H), who was credited with his second save of the season.
The Orioles had two shining stars in the game, Jorge Mateo and Rylan Bannon who was making his MLB debut. Mateo (1 for 4, 1 HR, 1 Run Scored, 1 RBI) put the exclamation point on the win with his 9th inning, back to the infield, over the shoulder catch of a Dylan Carlson fly ball. Mateo then turned and doubled off Tyler O’Neill at first base to end the game. Bannon made a highlight reel play on a Nolan Arenado line drive in the first inning and collected his first MLB hit in the second inning.
Anthony Bemboom went 1 for 4 with a homerun, 1 run scored and 1 RBI.
Chris Owings went 1 for 3 with 1 run scored and a stolen base.
Trey Mancini went 3 for 4.
I am certain that Michael “Weams” Williams was looking down from above with a huge smile as Bannon was one of his favorite players.
2022 Record: 14-18
